Ski binding

ABSTRACT

A binding structure, particularly for the interconnection of a sports shoe to a ski, comprising a toe unit, which is provided with at least a swivel jaw, a heel unit and a plate, which, at a first end, is attached pivotally connected to the ski, the plate, at a second end, being provided with means of sliding interconnection with said swivel jaw; the swivel jaw and the plate being able to rotate along opposite directions with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a ski binding structure, particularly for the interconnection of a sports shoe, such as a ski boot, to a ski.

[0002] It is known to use ski binding structures comprising a front toe unit and a rear heel unit, which are connected at the bottom to a plate, which is, in turn, connected to the ski.

[0003] Typically, the toe and heel units are designed to allow, in the event of considerable stresses, the release of the sports shoe from the ski in order to reduce the risks of injury due, for example, to accidental falls. In particular, the toe unit is generally provided with a pivotally mounted jaw, which accommodates the toe of the sports shoe and which is arranged to facilitate, upon excessive force, the release of the toe from the sports shoe.

[0004] The main drawback of such known type of ski bindings consists in that it is generally necessary to use sports shoes provided at the bottom with a rigid sole made of a plastic material having very low friction values, thereby reducing to a minimum the frictional force that contrasts the release of the toe of the sports shoe from the ski.

[0005] This fact makes often the user's gait difficult and dangerous, because the sole is relatively sturdy and offers only a quite low grip on snowy or icy surfaces.

[0006] Furthermore, it is very difficult to use sports shoes provided with a resilient sole, which would ensure more comfort to the user. This is due to the fact that such partially resilient soles are typically made of materials with high friction values, which, generally, do not comply with the current standards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Therefore, the aim of the present invention is to provide a ski binding, which can be safely used also in combination with a sports shoe fitted with a sole having one or more areas made of materials with a relatively high friction coefficient.

[0008] Within this aim, another object of the present invention, is to provide a ski binding, which can be safely used in combination with a sports shoe, provided with a sole that is at least partially made of rubber or other plastic material designed to facilitate the user's gait, in particular guaranteeing an excellent grip on snowy or icy surfaces.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a ski binding, which can be safely used in combination with a sports shoe provided with a sole that is at least partially resilient and therefore suitable to facilitate walking to the user.

[0010] A further object of the present invention is to provide a ski binding that is structurally simple and has low manufacturing costs.

[0011] Thus, the present invention provides a ski binding, particularly for the interconnection of a sports shoe to a ski, comprising a toe unit provided with at least a swivel jaw, a heel unit and a plate arranged between said toe unit and said heel unit, said plate being pivotally connected, at a first end, to said ski characterised in that said plate is provided, at a second end, with means of sliding interconnection with said swivel jaw, said swivel jaw and said plate being able to rotate along opposite directions with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Further characteristics and advantages of the ski binding, according to the present invention, will become better apparent from the detailed description of some particular embodiments thereof, illustrated by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0013]FIG. 1 is a side view of the ski binding, according to the present invention;

[0014]FIGS. 2 and 3 are top plan views of the ski binding, according to the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a side view of the heel unit of the ski binding, according to the present invention;

[0016]FIGS. 5 and 6 are top plan views of the heel unit of the ski binding, according to the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 7 is a side view of the toe unit of ski binding, according to the present invention; and

[0018]FIGS. 8 and 9 are top plan views of the toe unit of the ski binding, according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] With reference to the figures, reference number 1 designates a ski binding according to the present invention, which is particularly suitable for the interconnection of a sports shoe 50, such as a ski boot, to a ski 2. The ski binding 1 comprises a toe unit 3 and a heel unit 4 the bottom whereof may be connected to the ski 2.

[0020] The heel unit 4 is preferably provided with a ski-braking device 5 (commonly called “ski stopper”) that is designed to prevent the ski 2 from sliding on the snow. As known, this device is automatically deactivated upon positioning the sports shoe 50 inside the binding 1. The toe unit 3 is provided also with at least a swivel jaw 10.

[0021] A plate 6, having a width approximately equal to that of the ski 2 is arranged between the heel unit 4 and the toe unit 3 and is connected thereto. The plate 6 is advantageously connected pivotally to the ski 2 at a first end 7 a. In this manner, the plate 6 is able to rotate at least partially around a first pin 8 connected perpendicularly to the ski 2. At a second end 7 b, the plate 6 is provided with means of sliding interconnection 9 that ensures the connection of the plate 6 with the swivel jaw 10 of the toe unit 3.

[0022] This swivel jaw 10 is advantageously counter-shaped to the toe of the sports shoe 50. Preferably, the swivel jaw is V-shaped, so that it can better accomodate the toe portion of the sports shoe 50. The swivel 10 is designed to allow temporary retention of the sports shoe 50 to the ski 2. The swivel jaw 10 may rotate with respect to the toe unit 3, which is rigidly connected to the ski. In fact, the swivel jaw 10 is advantageously connected pivotally to the toe unit 3 approximately at its vertex. Preferably, the swivel jaw 10 rotates in opposition to a preloaded resilient element, not shown in the figures.

[0023] An arm 11 protrudes from the bottom of the swivel jaw 10 and is advantageously provided on its free end with a second pin 12, which is substantially vertical and is arranged to slide inside the means of sliding interconnection 9. For this aim, the means of sliding interconnection 9 may suitably comprise a longitudinal slot 90 arranged substantially along the center line of the second end 7 b of the plate 6. In this manner, the swivel jaw 10 may rotate, with respect to the ski 2, along a direction, which is opposite to rotating direction of the plate 6. At the bottom, the plate 6 is provided with a surface designed to allow an easy rotation with respect to the ski. For this aim, it is possible to mount one or more slide plates 13, made of a material with a low friction coefficient.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the length of the plate 6 may be longitudinally varied in order to ensure the adjustability of the binding structure 1 according to the size of the user's sports shoe 50. Thus, as shown in the figures, the plate 6 may comprise, for example, a first body 6 a and a second body 6 b, which are joined telescopically in order to permit the separation or approach between the first and second ends 7 a and 7 b. The temporary interconnection between the first and the second body 6 a and 6 b can be, for example, achieved through a screw 14 that may be selectively associated to at least a first hole 15 b, provided approximately along the center line of the second body 6 b, and at least a counter-threaded second hole 15 a, provided approximately along the center line of the first body 6 a. To allow positioning of the heel unit 4 above the plate 6, a spacer 16, such as a separate plate having a thickness approximately equal to that of the plate 6, can advantageously be inserted between the heel unit 4 and the ski 2.

[0025] Operation is therefore as follows: with reference to the FIGS. 1 to 3, it can be seen that the user may fasten the sports shoe 50 to the ski binding 1 in a totally similar way to a conventional ski binding.

[0026] The sports shoe 50, however, may also be provided with a sole partially made of resilient plastic material, such as rubber, in order to grant the user a more comfortable, safe walking.

[0027] The sports shoe 50 may, for example, comprise a sole with a rigid, standardised toe and heel (in a similar way to a ski boot), so that it may be used in combination with a known type of toe unit and heel unit; an area, made of resilient plastic material suitable for allowing efficient adherence and a suitable deformation in the foot arch area, can be associated between the toe and heel of the sports shoe 50.

[0028] In the event of an accidental fall or excessive stresses on the user's foot, the ski binding structure, according to the present invention, guarantees the release of the sports shoe 50 from the same, since the plate 6 can rotate transversely to the ski 2, thereby moving the toe of the sports shoe 50 away from the swivel jaw 10. Furthermore, by simultaneously rotating transversely to the ski 2, in the opposite direction to the plate 6 (and therefore to the toe of the sports shoe 50), the swivel jaw 10 remarkably facilitates the release of the sports shoe 50 and the separation of the user's foot from the ski 2, thus allowing to achieve high levels of safety.

[0029] It has thus been shown that the ski binding according to the present invention achieves the aim and objects, since it may be used in maximum safety also in combination with a sports shoe provided with a sole at least partially made of a material which has not a low friction coefficient, such as rubber. In this way, it is possible to use sports shoes that comprise a resilient sole at least at the arch area, thereby facilitating walking to the user and guaranteeing an excellent grip on snowy or icy surfaces.

[0030] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. TV2001A000096 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference. 

1. A binding, particularly for the interconnection of a sports shoe to a ski, comprising a toe unit, which is provided with at least a swivel jaw, a heel unit and a plate arranged between said toe unit and said heel unit, said plate being, at a first end, pivotally connected to said ski, characterised in that said plate, at a second end, is provided with means of sliding interconnection with said swivel jaw, said swivel jaw and said plate being able to rotate along opposite directions with respect to the longitudinal axis of the said ski.
 2. The binding, according to claim 1, characterised in that said plate is connected pivotally to said ski by means of a first pin connected perpendicularly to said ski, said plate comprising a first and a second body, which are joined telescopically in order to allow a variation in the length of said binding structure, means of temporary interconnection being provided for connecting said first body and said second body.
 3. The binding, according to claim 2, characterised in that said means of temporary interconnection between said first body and said second body comprise a screw selectively associated to at least a first hole, provided approximately along the center line of said second body, and to at least a second hole provided approximately along the center line of said first body
 4. The binding, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said means of sliding interconnection allow a rotation of said plate and said jaw along opposite directions, which are transverse to the longitudinal axis of said ski.
 5. The binding, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said means of sliding interconnection comprise: a longitudinal slot, which is provided approximately along the center line of the second end of said plate; and a second vertical pin, which protrudes from the top of the free end of an arm protruding from the bottom of said swivel jaw, said second vertical pin being allowed to slide along said slot.
 6. The binding, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said plate, having a width approximately equal to that of said ski, is provided, at the bottom, with one or more slide plates, which are made of a material with a low friction coefficient, so as to define at least a surface, which allows an easy rotation of said plate with respect to said ski.
 7. The binding, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the rotation of said plate and said swivel jaw occurs simultaneously, so as cause the release of said sports shoe from said binding structure.
 8. The binding, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that it may be associated to a sports shoe, provided with a sole at last partially made of a resilient plastic material, having a desired friction coefficient.
 9. The binding, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that a spacer, having a thickness approximately equal to that of said plate, is positioned between said ski and said heel unit. 